"$25 to forward your records"

[elguapo9]

So, I recently changed airlines. I am in the middle of systems training at the new one. I have been gone from the old place since the 3rd of Oct. Today, I got a letter from the old place telling me that the new place has requested my records. Old Employer wants me to pay them $25 to send the records to New Employer.

My question in this: Is this even legal? Should I call the new employer and tell them about this and see what they say? Or, should I just ignore it?

Thanks
Elguapo

 

[CL600Pilot]

I'm certainly no legal expert but I can't see how you could be forced to pay them money to forward the records. - Especially $25 - how much does an envelope and postage cost?? The old company is REQUIRED under PRIA to forward the info - you provided the previous employment info required and that should be the end of your involvement - if the old company refuses to comply then that's an issue between them and the FAA(or whichever govt. agency would have jurisdiction).

It may make things go more smoothly(and quickly) if you do let the folks at your new company know what's going on so they can take the actions they need to take and move you thru the process.

A call to the local FSDO to pose the question may not be a bad idea although I'm not sure they would have an answer.

CL

 

[FlyChicaga]

Send them $25... poo dollar style. Booyah.

 

[TheInsider]

May be easy for me to say but don't pay. After 30 days when your new employer still doesn't have the records it will become very interesting. If I were you I would call the local FSDO and notify them. I am sure they will make a quick call and get it taken care of. Did you ever sign anything or was it ever a company policy that you would have to pay for this service?
Mention the dilemma to your new employer as well.

 

[Paul R. Smith]

So, I recently changed airlines. I am in the middle of systems training at the new one. I have been gone from the old place since the 3rd of Oct. Today, I got a letter from the old place telling me that the new place has requested my records. Old Employer wants me to pay them $25 to send the records to New Employer.

My question in this: Is this even legal? Should I call the new employer and tell them about this and see what they say? Or, should I just ignore it?

Thanks
Elguapo

I'm so curious...where is the old employer based? if you can't say the name....

 

[Singlecoil]

How about a call to your Congressman or Senator? The feds passed that law, they might be interested to see how companies are using it to pad their bottom line.

 

[staledog]

why dont you just tell us all what company this is, so we can all know never to work there.....

 

[pilotyip]

Allowed to recover

The PIRA allows employers to recover a reasonable fee to provide PIRA information on a former employee. $25 is a pretty much standard for the industry from what I have seen.

 

[English]

I have NEVER been charged a fee, and I've even worked at a couple of bottom feeders.


I guess not bottom enough, eh Pilotyip?

 

[Clyde]

Not sure what the legalities are, but if you must pay the $25, get a receipt. You might be able to use it as a tax deduction.

 

[Thedude]

Are you sure about that fee. Typicall you just fill out the PRIA form and that is it. The company that you are going to work for handles it from there and I dont think the old company can charge the new company for the paperwork. But I have seen certain companies that will try to charge you, if you check that box to receive and addtional copy for your personal use.
You didn't work for AMF did you???

 

[platinumclub]

I agree with FlyChicaga, poo dollar style if you gotta send it!

 

[crashpad]

I agree with FlyChicaga, poo dolla style if you gotta send it!

Funny Avatar, but what is 'poo dolla'?

Air Wisco pulled the same stunt with me and requested $25. I called and talked with a snotty little broad who told me it was administrative fees. $25 for a photocopy & stamp. When I asked what the other pilots ever said, she shot back "THEY PAY IT Or They don't get the Records"!
I told her there's no way I'm sending $25 and if my employer has any problems I'll hear about it and my attourney will contact her superior directly.
Needless to say everything was expressed to my present employer and that was the end of it. Don't ever let some HS degreed, $7/hr, self-empowered person mess with your career...you gotta draw the line there and level both barrels right up their a$$.

 

[Clyde]

O.K., been thinking more about this. Is PRIA a law? I mean, this was established because of an accident, and the FAA wanted prospective employers to know more about who they are hiring, specifically with respect to training. So, if this is mandatory, wouldn't the company be in violation of the FAA regs if they don't comply?

Also, if I remember correctly, I think PRIA says the prospective employer must make an ATTEMPT to get the records. If something happens down the road, they can tell the FAA they tried to get records, but the company wasn't cooperating.

Furthermore, think about this. Sometimes it's better to beg for forgiveness later. What I mean, is pay the $25.00 and then do something later. If you refused to pay, and didn't get hired because of it, would that prospective job be worth $25.00 or a lot more to you?

Afterwards, you can go to the FAA and explain what happened. They may not be aware of what is going on and may decide that this is not a legal practice.

 

[WillFlyFoCookie]

I've unfortunately had to pay the $25 a couple of times. Appearently the PRIA allows for this "administrative fee". One of my former employers charges me if I want a copy of my records AND charges my new employer. I got smart and on my last job switch I checked the "NO" box if I wanted my own copy. Well a few weeks later my employer sent me the bill that was sent to them by my former employer. The current employer says they don't pay for records requests so I had to cover this fee. I am happy about it? No, but I guess it's just the cost of doing business.

 

[username]

This has got to be Ameriflight.

Those cheap S.O.B.'s. They've sent me that letter several times now. I don't know of any other company that's doing this.

My last two employers never even mentioned it. Don't worry about it. I don't know what my employers did but they must have either paid it just blown off the AMF PRIA request.

Now about hiring a lawyer. My wife is one. She charges $175 per hour for her time and that's really not much for an attorney. Let's see ... $175 per hour or 25 bucks. See what I'm getting at? You make the call.

You could always threaten to hire an attorney but to me it would be an obvious empty threat. Unfortunately, the law is on the employers side.

 

[crashpad]

If they are truely entitled to fair compensation...OK, but who can justify $25?

 

[100LL... Again!]

A reasonable fee may be charged.

However, the records may not be withheld until the fee is paid.

That is the law, unfortunately.

I'd pay the $25. My former employers do not owe me anything.

 

[crashpad]

Does anybody think $25 is reasonable?

 

[Lord_Baltimore]

(1) The former employer is required to send the records to the new, requesting employer. Period.

(2) The former employer may then charge the new, requesting employer for their "resonable fee" - and note that there is no definition of "reasonable". I'll bet there are already companies charging $100 or more.

(3) Things being what they are, you can bet that your new employer will then pass on the charge to you. Can you do anything about it? No.

Being a pilot these days kind of reminds me of what my ex-father-in-law used to say about being a farmer - you buy at retail, sell at wholesale and pay the freight both ways.

(4) If your former employer is billing YOU for the records they sent to your new emplyer, they haven't read the rules. If you have checked the box saying that you want a copy of the records, however, they can charge you directly for that copy.